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Code of Hammurabi

King Hammurabi ruled Babylon (in ancient Iraq) for over 40 years in the 18th century B.C.E. The king’s long reign allowed him to accomplish numerous goals, and his successes are commemorated in this monumental collection of Babylonian law. The stela spells out 282 laws; half address contract issues, a third concern household and family relationships, and the remainder address miscellaneous issues such as military service. The relief carving seen at the top shows King Hammurabi standing, with right hand raised in a sign of respect, before the Mesopotamian deity Shamash, god of justice. Shamash is seated on his throne, presenting Hammurabi with a scepter, a symbol of royal power. The scene is meant to legitimize Hammurabi’s legal proclamations by demonstrating their authorization by the god of justice.

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A legal code issued by the Babylonian King Hammurabi and distributed widely in the ancient world. Many of its laws, like "an eye for an eye," would enter other ancient legal codes.

The king of Babylon from 1792-1750 BCE; he distributed a set of widely influential laws, the "Code of Hammurabi," throughout his kingdom.

Of or relating to ancient lower Mesopotamia and its empire centered in Babylon.

The god of the sun and justice in ancient Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian cultic tradition, whose chief cult-centers were at Sippar and Larsa in the Fertile Crescent.

An upright stone slab usually inscribed or carved for commemorative purposes.